Monday, April 14, 2014

Long Beach to Malibu Beach

A last walk along Long Beach's - LA River before leaving brought a pleasant surprise: a skate scooting through the water above the mussels.

We drove around the high cliffs of Palos Verdes Peninsula with it's beautiful old trees and lighthouses.

At Fermin Park was this 140 year old fig tree.

We followed the Pacific Coast Highway to our home for the next two weeks at Malibu Beach RV Park. We were welcomed by this Rufous Hummingbird in the many blossoming plants along the hillsides. We are perched about 500 feet above the beach and on clear days we can see for miles.

We walked to Solstice Canyon National Recreation Area several days and found some interesting birds and animals. This Wood Rat was 30 feet up in a hollowed tree.

Nanday (Black-Hooded) Parakeets

Audubon's Warbler

Wrentit

The best part about being here is the opportunity to spend time with our oldest son Travis and his wife Tina. He rented a car for us to drive in and out of the amazing L.A. traffic. We went to different parks to bird; spent time at Santa Monica checking out the farmer's market; spent a day at the L.A. Zoo with lots of interesting birds and animals; and precious time just visiting.

Santa Monica Pier and Beach

Townsend's Warbler

Koala at L.A. Zoo

The nearby Malibu Lagoon was full of gulls, terns and shorebirds - the best find - Surfbirds.

Calliope Hummingbird

We put out a hummingbird feeder at our RV site and had many interesting visitors check it out.

Allen's Hummingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Nanday Parakeet

One of the fun projects we took on was trying to find as many species of parrots and parakeets that are thriving in Southern California. We found Yellow-headed Parrots and Blue-crowned Parakeets near Imperial Beach; Red-crowned and Lilac-crowned Parrots near San Diego; Red-lored Parrots by Oceanside; Yellow-chevroned and Mitred Parakeets in Los Angeles; and Black-hooded (Nanday) Parakeets near Malibu Beach coming into our RV Park.

One species left to find - the beautiful Rose-ringed Parakeet. We contacted a local bird expert who told us where to find them. Early Sunday morning we drove the PCH south to Vista del Rey and practically parked under the roost tree where we could hear them waking up. One by one they flew out calling then coming down to these beautiful red flowers picking petals and eating the ends off.

Time to leave the LA basin and beaches and head north through the Santa Monica Mountains hoping for a glimpse of California Condors soaring above.

About Me

We have been married since 1970 and have been retired since May 7, 2011 after being the resident director of the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay, Wisconsin for 40 years. Our dream was to travel in our motorhome across North America to see and photograph this wonderful land and all that God has created in the birds, animals, plants and magnificent scenery. We are now fulfilling this dream.